A laundry whitening product locally known as “super white” is being investigated as a possible substance mistakenly mixed into gulaman that sickened 29 students at Tulalian National High School in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.
PMaj. Eunice Huit, deputy chief of the Sto. Tomas Municipal Police Station, disclosed the information in an interview with 93.1 Brigada News FM-Davao.
Huit said authorities are still investigating the incident. Based on their initial findings, the vendor reportedly prepared the gulaman for sale but found it bland and instructed someone to buy sugar from a store.
The substance believed to be sugar may have actually been “super white,” which the vendor reportedly mixed directly into the gulaman.
Police are now determining whether the product given by the store was indeed the laundry whitening product.
The vendor was arrested but later released after the reglementary period had expired. Huit said the vendor could still face charges if the victims’ families file complaints and provide additional statements.
Aside from the students, a teacher also reportedly consumed the gulaman.
Earlier reports said 23 students were brought to different hospitals after experiencing stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Six other students were clinically cleared after showing no symptoms associated with food poisoning.
Authorities inspected the school, including its canteen and nearby food vendors, and collected food samples for laboratory analysis.
The cause of the suspected food poisoning has not yet been confirmed. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities await the laboratory results.
